SHOWTIME has picked up a second season of the critically-acclaimed new drama series THE AFFAIR and a fifth season of the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning hit series HOMELAND, to air 10 and 12 new episodes respectively in 2015. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President, Showtime Networks Inc. Season-to-date, HOMELAND season four is averaging six million weekly viewers across platforms – steadily building momentum and growing in each of its last three weeks. On pace to be the network’s most time-shifted original series, THE AFFAIR is averaging 3.9 million weekly viewers across platforms. The series has grown consistently every single week since its premiere, with 87 percent of the show’s audience tuning-in after the original Sunday 10 p.m. telecast. Both series currently air on Sunday nights starting at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

“In its fourth season, HOMELAND has brilliantly reinvented itself. It continues to capture the attention of a devoted fan base, and has provided an enviable platform for the successful launch of THE AFFAIR,” said Nevins. “With thought-provoking, relevant and addictive storylines, both series have been embraced, dissected and much debated week after week. We’re excited to see more from these complex shows in 2015.”

The last time we saw actress Morena Baccarin on the FOX network, she was flying free with the crew of the ship Serenity on the Joss Whedon created cult series Firefly. That is all about to change with the announcement that she will be joining the cast of the new hit series Gotham.

As reported by Deadline, Morena will have a recurring role this season and will become a regular in Season 2.

She will play Dr. Leslie Thompkins, a gifted and dedicated physician who was a friend of Bruce Wayne’s parents, Thomas and Martha. She is determined to use her skills to aid Gotham’s most in need, which currently means working at the newly opened Arkham Asylum’s Home for the Criminally Insane.

Morena was last scene on the Showtime series Homeland for which she received an Emmy nomination for her role. She has also starred in series such as V and Stargate SG-1.

The highly anticipated season 4 of SHOWTIME’s Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning hit drama series HOMELAND will premiere the first two episodes airing back to back on October 5 beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Additionally, SHOWTIME has moved up the premiere of the highly anticipated new drama series THE AFFAIR, which will now debut on Sunday, October 12th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

“In the aftermath of Homeland’s stunning finale last season, there is such strong anticipation for the start of season four that we wanted to give Homeland fans an extra generous helping of Carrie and company,” said Gary Levine, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Showtime Networks. “Once we decided to premiere Homeland with a double episode, it made sense to use the momentum of that event to launch our newest series, The Affair, the very next week on October 12th.”

SHOWTIME and Fox 21 announced today that the Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning drama series HOMELAND will begin production in Cape Town, South Africa. Season four will find Carrie Mathison (Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe Award winner Claire Danes) assigned to one of the most volatile and dangerous CIA stations in the Middle East where she is back on the front lines in the war on terror. The series will begin production in mid-June and shoot through November of this year. The network's No. 1 rated series with an average of seven million weekly viewers, HOMELAND's fourth season will premiere this fall on SHOWTIME.

SHOWTIME and Fox 21 announced today that acclaimed actress Nazanin Boniadi, who guest-starred in season three of the Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning drama HOMELAND, will return as a series regular for season four. Boniadi plays Fara Sherazi, the strong-willed Muslim CIA analyst who Saul (Emmy and Tony® Award winner Mandy Patinkin) recruited for her expertise in international banking. Like Carrie (Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe Award winner Claire Danes), Fara shares a passion for justice and ends up enlisting her relatives in Tehran to help Carrie’s secret mission in the final episodes of season three. Season four finds Fara in a key role working for Carrie at the CIA. The network’s No. 1 rated series with seven million weekly viewers, HOMELAND begins production on season four this summer and will premiere in the fall on SHOWTIME.